Scandal stalls Council session

The Opposition on Thursday stalled the proceedings of the Legislative Council over the “porngate” scandal.

With the ruling BJP and the Congress and JD(S) clamouring over the issue, Council chairman D H Shankarmurthy adjourned the House sine die, a day in advance. Members of both the Congress and the JD(S) staged a dharna as soon as the House assembled for the day. Opposition leader Motamma sought permission to take up discussion on the scandal, but the chairman turned it down and said any discussion would be allowed only after the Question Hour.

The chairman adjourned the proceedings for half an hour to bring order. The Opposition parties, however, continued their protest when the House re-assembled. “The BJP has brought disgrace to the entire Legislature. The former ministers are unfit to be MLAs. It is most unfortunate that the government is trying to protect the tainted members,” Motamma said.

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda reiterated that the question of discussion on the issue and disqualification of three former ministers does not arise as the Speaker has already set up a committee to probe the matter. “You (Opposition parties) are actually showing disrespect to the Legislature by stalling the proceedings. You have no respect for any rules,” he said.

The chief minister at the same time briefly read out his reply to the discussion on the motion of thanks to the governor’s address, which was declared approved by the chairman. After tabling some starred and unstarred questions, the chairman adjourned the House sine die. The session was actually scheduled to be held till February 10. Later speaking to reporters, Motamma said the BJP had insulted women, and they would teach an appropriate lesson to the party in the next Assembly elections. 

“The BJP has protected all its leaders involved in various sex scandals. I won’t be surprised if all the three former ministers (Lakshman Savadi, C C Patil and Krishna Palemar) are re-inducted into  the Cabinet in the coming days,” she said.